The Best Start Grant is a package of three payments, delivered by Social Security Scotland, that will give extra money to lower-income families during the early years of a child’s life. The three payments include the Pregnancy and Baby

Payment, which will be open for applications on 10 December 2018.

The Pregnancy and Baby Payment will help with expenses in pregnancy or the expenses of having a baby. This replaces the DWP’s Sure Start Maternity Grant and will put more money into the pockets of families on low incomes – paying £600 on the birth of a first child and £300 for each sibling born thereafter.

Two additional payments of £250 will help with the costs of early learning and school preparation costs and will be open for applications by summer 2019.

To be eligible for the Pregnancy and Baby Payment, the family must live in Scotland and be in receipt of a qualifying benefit from the list below:
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

Parents are eligible from the 24th week of pregnancy and applications can be made up until the child is 6 months old.

If the expectant mother is under 18 or 18/19 and still dependant on their parents and in full time education or training – they do not need to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

The Pregnancy and Baby Payment will be disregarded for UK benefit and tax credit assessments.

For information on Best Start Grant and the Pregnancy and Baby Payment you can advise families to visit mygov.scot/pregnancy-and-baby-payment or call us on 0800 182 2222.

If you are a welfare advisor and you want to get in touch, please contact the Social Security Scotland by email at localdelivery@socialsecurity.gov.scot